The Dauphin Clippers hockey team finished 2021 with nine wins in the first couple months of the season and now, they're back on the ice to begin 2022.
The team hits the road for the first time in the new year as they take on the Virden Golden Bears Wednesday night at Tundra Oil & Gas Place. The Clippers lost four times in regulation while they fell in a shootout twice and also in overtime twice. After playing just one game last year, a win against Crocus Plains, there is certainly a lot to be excited about heading into 2022 for the Clippers.
Virden has struggled this season going 5-14 and Jason Alf had this to say on the first half of the season heading into Wednesday.
"We played well in some games that we should have won that we didn't and poorly in games that we won that we probably shouldn't have," said Alf. "We're still trying to put everything together. It was tough last year with missing basically an entire year. We have a brand new team and they're still learning how to win and hold on to leads."
Alf also said there is no quit in this year's team and the coaching staff is very proud.
After starting the season with the Parkland U18 Rangers, Cole Delamare has led the Clippers offensively, scoring seven times and adding 13 assists. Logan Chapman; meanwhile, has the most goals on the team with 11 and he's second in team scoring with his 18 points. 17 Clippers have scored this season which shows the depth of this year's roster and in net, Owen Chubka has started 10 games while Cody Coombs has started eight games.
In their last game before Christmas, Trayden Guiboche and Matthew Zurba scored a goal each in a 5-2 loss against the Neepawa Tigers and after a sizeable break, Alf says the team is ready for a Golden Bears challenge.
"We're hoping to get a rhythm here as soon as possible," said Alf. "The break is always a good thing for everyone to recharge, but it's time to get back to business here, it's going to be a busy rest of the season."
